........and still be voluminous........

Which definition of voluminous are you using?

I'd describe the interior of a Superbe as voluminous, and possibly the boot of an Octavia estate, but not a Yeti

And before anyone accuses me of Yeti-bashing, I'm not - I'm simply being realistic

To be fair, and from an unbiased bystander's point of view, you are now starting to wriggle away from this statement

Ever so slightly yes as all in all there's bound to be some Ford bits in there. Just like till this day you get Ford interior bits in every Aston Martin and Jaguar. (but you also get Mazda real lights on an Aston DB7. http://www.google.co.uk/m/search?site=images&client=safari&hl=en&gl=uk&source=mog&aq=f&oq=&aqi=-k0d0t0&fkt=803&fsdt=6714&cqt=&rst=&htf=&his=&maction=&q=aston+martin+db7+rear+lights#i=22)

I'm with Bobdog on this: it looks like a Kuga to me.

I'm also with Agerbundsen: I don't like it, and I don't like the current trend bendy-wiggly-swoopy "styling cues" ie curves in places where they have no purpose and make little aesthetic sense. The Juke is a perfect example: to me it looks like a beach buggy gone seriously wrong. But then again maybe I'm just an old fart...

Actually the trend I really don't like - and this car shares it with the New Sportage, the iX35 and the Kuga - is the waistline that rises towards the rear. It seriously reduces visibility towards the rear quarters, exactly where I want to check the blind spot that the mirrors don't cover when I'm changing lanes, or turning left when there's a cycle lane on my inside. It probably wouldn't worry the majority of drivers, especially judging by the number who seem to think that blacking out all the glass rearward of the B pillar is an entirely sensible thing to do, but as a motorcyclist I've developed a fondness over the years for turning and looking my fellow road-users in the whites of their eyes!

My original point was that Ford does not own a part of Mazda anymore. Of course things that have been started before the shares were sold and indeed all platforms already in production will continue to be shared. That gows without saying I'd have thought.

Sorry, but still wrong. Ford has reduced it's holding in Mazda progressively in recent years, but not completely sold out. Ford once held over 33% of the shares in the company, reducing to around 10% in 2008. In November 2010 this stake was reduced further, and Ford currently owns 3.5% of Mazda. "The two firms also announced on November 19 that their tie up will be maintained in making cars and technology flows between them. Ford also insisted that while it wishes to grow into fast-growing emerging markets, like China, it is 'committed to its strategic partnership with Mazda, which spans more than 30 years'." Asia Pacific Business and Technology Report, January 31st 2011

Sorry, but still wrong.

I stand corrected then. :-). By now I'd have thought Ford had gotten rid of Mazda completely.

I'm with Bobdog on this: it looks like a Kuga to me.

I'm also with Agerbundsen: I don't like it, and I don't like the current trend bendy-wiggly-swoopy "styling cues" ie curves in places where they have no purpose and make little aesthetic sense. The Juke is a perfect example: to me it looks like a beach buggy gone seriously wrong. But then again maybe I'm just an old fart...

Actually the trend I really don't like - and this car shares it with the New Sportage, the iX35 and the Kuga - is the waistline that rises towards the rear. It seriously reduces visibility towards the rear quarters, exactly where I want to check the blind spot that the mirrors don't cover when I'm changing lanes, or turning left when there's a cycle lane on my inside. It probably wouldn't worry the majority of drivers, especially judging by the number who seem to think that blacking out all the glass rearward of the B pillar is an entirely sensible thing to do, but as a motorcyclist I've developed a fondness over the years for turning and looking my fellow road-users in the whites of their eyes!

Agree with what you say re. swoopy styling and much prefer the more conservative approach of Yeti, Subaru Forester and Freelander etc. However re. the blacked out rear windows...I've not had a car with them before but having an SE spec. Yeti, they do, of course, have them as standard. I don't, in all honesty, notice any reduced vision from inside the car looking out, so wonder about your thoughts regarding reduced visibility and might wonder if it's the aftermarket film that might cause the problem you speak of? I like the fact that you can't see in so readily from a security point of view and would quite happily have them again if they were as per these current ones. This is in contrast to my previous prejudice against them on aesthetic grounds only. Just goes to show you shouldn't knock it till you've tried it, I suppose......

I stand corrected then. :-). By now I'd have thought Ford had gotten rid of Mazda completely.

Given the cost of platforms, I find it doubtful Mazda would do a niche custom platform for this. Much more likely to be Mazda 3 / Focus based... (although such conjecture is of course pretty irrelevant ).

PS: I had a Mazda 3 saloon a few years back. Best / most reliable car I'd had up to then (1 fault in 4 yrs). The Octavia has been more reliable though (touch wood) although more expensive to maintain (due to a change in usage pattern no doubt - seems to eat brake disks).

I'd very much cross-shop this against a Yeti, with the caveats about the (afore mentioned) diesel reliability and interior plastics in Mazdas.

I like to see behind me when reversing around corners.

The trend to make the back window triangular may look cool from the outside, but its a different viewpoint from the driver.

Also WHY have bigger wheels ? A 15" wheel is fine by me, less harsh road noise.

If only Skoda do a 7 seater, or a longer Yeti (about 1 foot), then the boot would be perfect, and also make the boot window hinged, so I can get into the boot without opening the door; this was on my Renault Scenic and was great.

I stand corrected then. :-). By now I'd have thought Ford had gotten rid of Mazda completely.

Still love you though xx

But perhaps like the Fiat 500 Twinair, the real-world fuel consumption figures will bear very little relation to what would reasonably be expected from a 120g car?

In relation to this Mazada thinngy.

PS

A mate, against my advice, sniff!, bought a petrol Mazada 3 for his wife, he bitterly regrets it,as the fuel economy is nowhere near the claimed figures, otherwise a good car mind.

just a thought

M

If only Skoda do a 7 seater, or a longer Yeti (about 1 foot), then the boot would be perfect

If only Skoda made the Scout in CR170 form. In fact it is the only anomally in the CR170 4x4 range I feel, ie compact 4x4 SUV Yeti CR170, no 4x4 CR170 in the Octavia Estate range, then a huge step up to the Superb Estate 4x4 CR170. I dont think we will see a bigger Skoda SUV when you see the range for 4x4 cars in Skoda. One thing is for sure, after being very pleasantly surprised by the Yeti's handling (ie stunned), the moment a CR170 Scout is on sale, I think many will trade in their 2WD VRS. I'd be one.

But perhaps like the Fiat 500 Twinair, the real-world fuel consumption figures will bear very little relation to what would reasonably be expected from a 120g car?

In relation to this Mazada thinngy.

PS

A mate, against my advice, sniff!, bought a petrol Mazada 3 for his wife, he bitterly regrets it,as the fuel economy is nowhere near the claimed figures, otherwise a good car mind.

just a thought

M

Not great on juice. It's only now after 5 years that I can get anywhere near the claimed combined cycle for the 1.6 of 40.9mpg and that's being gentle with it

Have you read the skyactiv blurb though? These are petrol and diesel engines with a compression ratio of 14:1. Not just an improvement on existing, tried and tested tech.

re. the blacked out rear windows...I've not had a car with them before but having an SE spec. Yeti, they do, of course, have them as standard.

I have an Elegance which also has tinted rear windows. I don't like them much but it's actually the aftermarket "limo tint" (aka "ganster tint") film that people get fitted that I'm referring to. The Kuga I test drove had had it done and it was awful (as well as being awfully badly done).

I don't, in all honesty, notice any reduced vision from inside the car looking out, so wonder about your thoughts regarding reduced visibility

The visibility problem is due to the compromised glass area in the back because of the rising waistline, often combined with a dropping roofline. It's trivially easy not to fit limo tint fablon but there isn't much you can do to about the sheet metal.

wonder if it's the aftermarket film that might cause the problem you speak of?

Correct, see above.

I like the fact that you can't see in so readily from a security point of view

The original reason for tinting (as opposed to blacking-out) windows is to reduce solar gain ie to stop the car getting so hot in sunny weather. The "security" argument is the worst justification for it IMHO, especially when it gets trotted out by yummy mummies who seem to think that every second passer-by is a dirty mackintosh-wearing paedo getting off on a momentary glimpse of their precious rug-rats strapped helplessly in to their kiddy seats as they cruise by on the school run, mobile phone in hand making arrangements to meet Jocasta and Suzie for lunch in that lovely little wine bar off the high street.

My advice, if you regularly leave lots of stuff in the vehicle that you want to keep secure and out of sight, would be to buy a van.

The "security" argument is the worst justification for it IMHO, especially when it gets trotted out by yummy mummies who seem to think that every second passer-by is a dirty mackintosh-wearing paedo getting off on a momentary glimpse of their precious rug-rats strapped helplessly in to their kiddy seats as they cruise by on the school run, mobile phone in hand making arrangements to meet Jocasta and Suzie for lunch in that lovely little wine bar off the high street

Typecasting at it's absolute finest!

Top quality rant! I bet you felt better after that.

Top quality rant! I bet you felt better after that.

I normally just need a good poo TBH

Sorry to go completely OT :(

Don't worry, it made me laugh so it was worth it. Some fair points in there as well particularly the phone one. I have a parrott device in my Yeti and knowing how cheap they are to have installed it drives me nuts to see so many people using mobiles in their cars. I passed some driving an Aston Martin the other day with a phone to their ear. You spend £100k plus on a car and still wont get a kit fitted.

You spend £100k plus on a car and still wont get a kit fitted.

Oh this gets my goat too........ Either they can't be bothered to fit a kit - which in a fancy car I won't either OR they are just too dumb to read the brochure properly to tick the bluetooth box as an option OR more likely they can't read the manual to even know what Bluetooth does (as 10 to 1 it is present in these expensive cars if even a humble Fiesta these days comes with it as standard!)

"The original reason for tinting (as opposed to blacking-out) windows is to reduce solar gain ie to stop the car getting so hot in sunny weather. The "security" argument is the worst justification for it IMHO, especially when it gets trotted out by yummy mummies who seem to think that every second passer-by is a dirty mackintosh-wearing paedo getting off on a momentary glimpse of their precious rug-rats strapped helplessly in to their kiddy seats as they cruise by on the school run, mobile phone in hand making arrangements to meet Jocasta and Suzie for lunch in that lovely little wine bar off the high street.

My advice, if you regularly leave lots of stuff in the vehicle that you want to keep secure and out of sight, would be to buy a van."

To be honest, I wish I hadn't replied. On the first point of 'swoopy lines' I simply noted my agreement with your thoughts.

On the question of the tinted rear windows I politely and, I thought, inoffensively, was trying to say I hadn't had them before but didn't, personally, find them a problem to see out of and liked the way they prevented prying eyes from seeing in to back seats of the car when it's parked. In response to that you've started an unwarranted rant and rave about topics furthest from my mind for a reason totally unknown to me. And who said I leave loads of stuff in the car? I'm able to work out that if I did have loads of stuff I could buy a van. Bit of a strange response but, never mind...

"The original reason for tinting (as opposed to blacking-out) windows is to reduce solar gain ie to stop the car getting so hot in sunny weather. The "security" argument is the worst justification for it IMHO, especially when it gets trotted out by yummy mummies who seem to think that every second passer-by is a dirty mackintosh-wearing paedo getting off on a momentary glimpse of their precious rug-rats strapped helplessly in to their kiddy seats as they cruise by on the school run, mobile phone in hand making arrangements to meet Jocasta and Suzie for lunch in that lovely little wine bar off the high street.

My advice, if you regularly leave lots of stuff in the vehicle that you want to keep secure and out of sight, would be to buy a van."

To be honest, I wish I hadn't replied. On the first point of 'swoopy lines' I simply noted my agreement with your thoughts.

On the question of the tinted rear windows I politely and, I thought, inoffensively, was trying to say I hadn't had them before but didn't, personally, find them a problem to see out of and liked the way they prevented prying eyes from seeing in to back seats of the car when it's parked. In response to that you've started an unwarranted rant and rave about topics furthest from my mind for a reason totally unknown to me. And who said I leave loads of stuff in the car? I'm able to work out that if I did have loads of stuff I could buy a van. Bit of a strange response but, never mind...

I don't think anyone was having a go at you Oldstan.

It's this hot ,humid weather. brings out the.... in some people.

I don't think anyone was having a go at you Oldstan.

It's this hot ,humid weather. brings out the.... in some people.

I'm sure you're right, bilun777. It'll all be OK tomorrow....heavy rain and substantially lower temperatures...

(as 10 to 1 it is present in these expensive cars if even a humble Fiesta these days comes with it as standard!)

Its £200 extra in a Fiesta for Bluetooth..... ( according to their latest price list..)

Standard in an SE Plus...

Standard in an SE Plus...

It's still a humble Fiesta viz a viz an Aston Martin no matter what Ford calls the specific model!

"The original reason for tinting (as opposed to blacking-out) windows is to reduce solar gain ie to stop the car getting so hot in sunny weather....

...liked the way they prevented prying eyes from seeing in to back seats of the car when it's parked. ...

Just got some clip-in shades for an Octavia. Have a mesh type material. Think I saw the supplier on an earlier post here, and must admit the shades are great! Just some 2c...

Just got some clip-in shades for an Octavia. Have a mesh type material. Think I saw the supplier on an earlier post here, and must admit the shades are great! Just some 2c...

I have a full five piece set of shades for the Yeti too. But found them too dark and they obscure my view out the back a tad too much. But to protect bambinos in the back (or hide mountain bikes and what not) they are perfect I have to say. If anyone wants a set PM me an offer.